Plant officials remain mum on why they scrapped a proposal to dismantle plutonium-fueled batteries here, but a nuclear safety agency report indicates Pantex was not equipped to perform the task.

Pantex stores an unknown number of radioisotopic thermal generators, plutonium-fueled batteries used to power nuclear weapons systems.

Heat produced by radioactive decay of plutonium oxide inside the devices, dubbed RTGs, can be used to power nuclear weapons systems and even send spacecraft into the cold, far-flung regions of the universe.

BWXT Pantex spokeswoman Erin Ritter said the contractor had no comment on its decision not to seek the mission.